Effects on sow and litter performance of patterns of feeding in gestation and of boar breed

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Abstract
Sow and litter performance of 45 Large White × Berkshire sows was measured over three parities. At first mating the animals were allocated to three dietary treatments according to mating weight and ultrasonically determined backfat cover. The same total gestation meal intake was distributed in three ways — low-high and high-low gestation feeding patterns and a constant daily meal intake. In addition boars of the Large White (LW) and Landrace (LR) breeds and their F1 cross (LW × LR) were used. Sow and litter performance was not affected by either the distribution of feed in gestation or boar breed group. There were long intervals between weaning and remating in all treatments, particularly in the warmer months, because of failure of sows to hold to service at the first post-weaning oestrus, and delayed onset of this oestrus. Over the trial period sows increased their reserves of body fat.